Mad about Mushrooms . . .

Sea Harvest Restaurant - Monterey, CA

On our recent trip to the central California coast, we spent two nights in Monterey, and after a really full whole day at the Aquarium (the best we've seen!) we contemplated which of the many restaurants available in that tony city would be our best choice for dinner on this, our last night in town.   We'd asked a couple of people we'd met at the aquarium for their thoughts, and one place close by was mentioned by all of them: the Sea Harvest.   "It's not fancy," said one, "but I love seafood, and I've never had a bad meal there."

The previous night, we'd strolled around the Cannery Row area, and suspected more than one of the restaurants there of being in the category of "tourist trap:" long on flash (and price) but perhaps a bit short on quality.  After the aquarium closed, we strolled over and checked out the Sea Harvest for ourselves.  Our new friend was right; it wasn't fancy, but it was clean and busy.  A combination fish market and restaurant, they serve beer and wine while offering a limited menu of seafood items, but if you can't find something on their menu that sounds great, you're just not trying.  Their menu says they've been family owned and operated since 1983 - also a good omen.  Prices weren't cheap, but they didn't strike us as unreasonable, assuming the quality was good.

It's an easy walk to Sea Harvest from the Aquarium. 

Brix 527 - Roseburg, OR

Would you have lunch and dinner in the same restaurant?  Well, I think you would if you were in Roseburg, and the restaurant was Brix 527.  That's what I did a couple of months ago. 

Steven and I headed off to Roseburg early one morning in April so that I could attend a business conference (TOC-OWA; The Oregon Consortium / Oregon Workforce Alliance), arriving in town just in time for a quick lunch before joining the afternoon session.  The restaurant was packed, and the crowd was alive.  Sounds echoed off the brick wall that lines the room.  We debated, "Did we want the small table with the high chairs or did we want to wait?  The answer was a quick, "Yes, let's take it - we're running late."

Brix 527 is an enjoyable eating place
on the way to Crater Lake. 

T2J Thai Restaurant - San Francisco, CA

One of the many delights about living on the southern Oregon coast is that we’re half way between Seattle and San Francisco, a day-long drive to either.  What good fortune;  it’s an easy drive to the many cultural and culinary events that make visits to both of these beautiful, world class cities so rewarding!

Given our proximity to the City by the Bay, it’s not unusual to find us in China Town, walking the streets, smelling the aromas, savoring the sights.  Nor is it unusual to see us seated a few blocks away from there, in T2J Thai Restaurant, our all-time favorite Thai restaurant.  We don't often go back to the same restaurants, at least not frequently; there are so many good ones in San Francisco, it's fun to try new places.  We make an exception for T2J Thai Restaurant, and almost never visit the city without dining there.

T2J Thai was formerly known as the Little Thai Restaurant. 

Siam Society - Portland, OR

This is how I will always remember Siam Society:  Seated in a courtyard surrounded by blooming vines of wisteria and a lively crowd of patrons with a starry canopy above and intriguing dishes filling the patio table.  What a delightful memory! 

It was a warm evening in June, and we set out to treat ourselves to dinner at the Siam Society, located in a converted power substation in the trendy Alberta district .  Recognized in numerous restaurant reviews including Bon Appetit, we quickly found that parking was at a minimum.  We persevered and soon found a suitable spot several blocks from the restaurant.  Walking past groups of Friday night revelers, we scaled the short flight of stairs to the restaurant and were warmly greeted by the enthusiastic, welcoming staff.

 

Siam Society: A charming Alberta District destination!

Jack's Bar & Grill - Redding, CA

Can you go to Redding and not stop at Jack's?  I don't know, but I do know that people have been patronizing the eatery since 1938. 

Steven and I made our first attempt to dine at Jack's in the summer of 2009.  We'd happened upon it quit unexpectedly on a hot summer evening.  But it was overflowing with customers, some spilling out the door, and we quickly left not wanting to wait for a table.  We had determined that we were not going to be detoured from Jack's again on this trip.

Jack's Grill circa 1940. 

Peggy Sue's 50's Diner - Yermo, CA

The first we knew about Peggy Sue's 50's Diner was from the large billboards on the highway.  Fascinated by the signage, we decided to stop for a quick bite to eat before heading over to Los Angeles to visit friends.  We weren't disappointed.  It was like visiting a museum filled with 50's and 60's memorabilia:  photographs and objects lined the walls, paraphernalia hung from the ceiling, cutouts were propped up against posts...it was almost visual overload.  The gift shop was also a museum, overflowing with all sorts of kitschy items from Betty Boop to Marilyn Monroe and James Dean and everything in between.

Peggy Sue's is an original roadside diner, built in 1954, with 9 counter stools and 3 booths.  It sits in the shadow of the Calico Mountains, constructed out of railroad ties and mortar from a nearby Union Pacific yard.   Today the diner has been enlarged to include a spacious dining area.  

It's almost visual overload, but fun! 

Benji's French Basque Restaurant - Bakersfield, CA

Frankly, Steven and I were quite disappointed when we awoke one morning on our recent California vacation and found out the highway leading East was impassable, thanks to a major snow storm.  We altered our plans, headed south towards Death Valley and decided to spend the night in Bakersfield, at the northern entrance to the park.  We arrived in the early part of the evening, checked into the motel and headed right out for dinner.  From previous experience, we knew that it was getting near to closing time for many restaurants.

It was 8:45 when we arrived at Benji's, an eatery that had caught our attention as we were driving into Bakersfield.  At that time, we had turned to each other and exclaimed in unison:  a French Basque restaurant!

We spent several hours at the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge on our way south. 

Sebastian's General Store and Cafe - San Simeon, CA

What do elephant seals and Sebastian's Cafe in San Simeon have in common?  Well, not a whole lot except that we were driving up the California coast, having spent the night at the wonderful Apple Farm in San Louis Obispo to Piedras Blancs where elephant seals come ashore for birthing, breeding, molting and resting.

Feeling the urge for something to tide us over until dinner, we made a short detour into San Simeon and stopped at Sebastian's General Store and Cafe.  Imagine a cute and rustic cafe seemingly in the middle of nowhere with an inviting deck, congenial staff (owners?), and a delicious soup.  You're imagining Sebastian's Cafe.

It's a short trip from the cafe to the elephant seal refuge.